CDS

Combined Defence Services

UPSC organizes CDS exam to recruit officers in Indian Air Force Academy, Officer Training Academy, India Military Academy & Indian Naval Academy. The CDS exam takes place twice a year at National Level. The first cycle of UPSC CDS exam takes place in February and second in November.

CDS Stages - Written exam, SSB Interview (Group Exercises & Personal Interview) & Medical Exam.

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for UPSC CDS Exam, you have to qualify certain benchmarks in various criteria as mentioned here.

A. Age Criteria 

•   Minimum Age- 20 Years
•   Maximum Age- 25 Years

B. Educational Qualification

• For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy - Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
• For Indian Naval Academy - Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution.
• For Air Force Academy - Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
• In exceptional cases the Commission may treat a candidate, who does not possess any of the qualifications prescribed in this rule as educationally qualified provided that he/she possesses qualifications, the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission, justifies his/her admission to the examination.

CDS Exam Pattern

UPSC CDS  Selection Process consists of 3 stages:

1. Selection is based on written exam, Interview & personality test for the post of Air Force, IMA, INA & Officers Training Academy.
2. A Merit list is prepared for the students who qualify the written examination and SSB test.
3. Final round of selection is based on the Medical Fitness for all available posts.

CDS Exam comprises of:

1. Written examination
2. Interview for Intelligence and Personality Test

(a) For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy —

The exam of Indian Naval Academy/Indian Military Academy/Indian Air Force comprises of 3 papers, which carry a total of 300 marks. The total duration of each exam is 2 hours.

(b) For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy —

The exam of Officer Training Academy (OTA) consists of 2 subjects with total 200 Marks. The duration of the two exams is 4 hours (2 hours for each exam).

Note:

• The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only
•  There will be negative marking for every wrong answer marked by you.

 Recruitment Notification- https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notice-CDSI2020-Engl-Final.pdf